Through Syntax to Style: A Grammar of Writing (LIT2169.01)

John Gould

“Syntax” is the aspect of grammar concerned with the relationships of words in a language, with how they fit together to create meaning. By exploring various English syntactical structures, we will discover a variety of ways to combine the same words to say slightly different things. The course will rely heavily on the linguistic work of Noam Chomsky. We will write a number of short, pithy essays in which syntax and punctuation will make a great difference. The ability to control syntax is critical for all writing, both expository and, more importantly, creative.